A great quote in the story comes from Dave Levinthal of the Center for Responsive Politics, which keeps tabs on campaign spending.

“The Democrats brought a bat, and the Republicans brought a grenade. If you think spending is out of control by outside groups, it likely will blow your mind in the presidential election.”

He’s talking about what to expect in 2012, and if these mid-terms were only a harbinger of what’s to come, it does make you cringe.

Additional money could be used to fuel the positive sides of campaigns, such as advertisements touting a candidate’s virtues, and paying for those earnest canvassers who want to get you to promise to vote for their candidate.

But let’s not be naive. Odds are, such resources very much would be dedicated to the stark attack ads that, as much as we all hate to admit it, are effective.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.